significant

Definition of significant

2a: having or likely to have influence or effect : importanta significant piece of legislationalso: of a noticeably or measurably large amount a significant number of layoffs producing significant profits

Synonyms & Antonyms for significant

Examples of significant in a Sentence

Historians of ancient gender have seen this as crucially significant. Women in antiquity were by definition so disempowered that the authority of a new female ruler could only be captured by representing her in the guise of a man. Or so the argument goes.— Mary Beard, New York Review of Books, 12 Feb. 2009While Congress will take a significant role in designing new regulation and is not likely to rubber-stamp the administration's proposals, momentum is strong for the creation of comprehensive financial reform.— Marc I. Seltzer et al., Commonweal, 19 June 2009A new study on women and the media from the University of Missouri-Columbia shows that overweight women and women with eating disorders are not the only ones negatively affected by unrealistic advertisements (as previous studies have indicated). After viewing images of models, women of all sizes reported a significant decrease in satisfaction with their weight, hair, physical shape and sexual attractiveness. — Ms., Summer 2007One of [Charles] Darwin's most extraordinary qualities was his ability to recognize when a scientific question could not be answered because of the limitations of the science of his day. He knew, for instance, that during his lifetime, no significant progress would be made on the question of how life began.— Amy Stewart, Wilson Quarterly, Winter 2004
A significant number of customers complained about the service.
He won a significant amount of money.
There is a significant difference in prices between the two stores.
The study found a statistically significant decrease in symptoms in patients who had taken the drug.
a significant event in the history of our nation
Fish is a significant part of their diet.
It is significant that she never mentioned him.
He gave us a significant wink.

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'significant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.